Dr. Z Maz 18 FX Loop

[Thoeng]

Hi guys,

i'm wondering about using the effects loop on the Maz for my delays.
I keep the volume at 9:00 and run the master around 3:00-4:00...

Will i still benefit from using the effects loop for cleaning up my delays or am i running the power amp too hot to really notice a difference?
(Don't have a proper cable to test atm)

Thanks

[DrewB]

I always prefer using delays in a loop vs. in front of the amp. I don't like the "blurring" sound of delays being distorted down the line. Even if I'm overdriving before a clean amp, delays sound better to me in the loop. I run a Boss DD-3 in my Maz 18 Jr. NR's loop, which sends the pedal a pretty hot signal.

[gtrnstuff]

That volume setting should be pretty clean for FX in the loop. I tried it once.
That said, I don't use the loop on my MAZ. Mainly because it's my only amp with an FX loop and I don't want to re-think everything.

[jsa61]

If you haven't already, you might want to check this out.
http://ztalk.proboards.com/index.cgi...y&thread=37045

[Thoeng]

Thanks for the link!

I'm mostly wondering about the effect of running the power amp pretty hot on the use of the effects loop.

I'm running the preamp volume fairly low and getting a lot of power tube "grind".

Anyone having good results with running the master wide open and still using the effects loop?

[Guitarbrett]

Originally Posted by Thoeng

Thanks for the link!

I'm mostly wondering about the effect of running the power amp pretty hot on the use of the effects loop.

I'm running the preamp volume fairly low and getting a lot of power tube "grind".

Anyone having good results with running the master wide open and still using the effects loop?

If you are getting alot of grind fom the power amp, it probably won't make much difference whether you run time based effects in front of the amp or in the loop. The distortion will be occurring after these effects either way, which is less than ideal for reverb and delay, BUT you are getting that wonderful MAZ power amp grind, so...

[Thoeng]

Yeah, that's what i was thinking.
Was just wondering if someone actually had experience with the effects loop on an 18 watt amp...

[Guitarbrett]

I have used the effects loop on my MAZ Jr NR in the past, but I don't anymore. At one point, my Carbon Copy delay repeats began distorting. I had to send it in for service. I had a feeling that the line level effects loop of the MAZ was responsible (signal too hot?). I run the preamp rather low myself, so I just put all effects out front now. I also used to run it with an attenuator and crank the Master. I had to turn delay and reverb way down to make it work. Ideally in this situation, you would apply reverb and delay at the board (if mic'd).

[gtrs]

I owned a Maz sr w/verb and had a loop added to it by Z when I ordered it.
Really, it wasn't worth it. Pretty much ruined the tone of the amp when I used it since it's not buffered.
I would get a NR in the future since the verb wasn't very good either but I LOVED the amp, it's one of his very best.
Basically you'll have to have a dumbalator to get the signal right going to your fx and then back to the correct level the amp wants to see. It's two very different things. Using a simple buffer to and from your fx will not achieve the same result. It will kinda work but you'll definitely lose some of the magic of a great amp just for some verb and delay.....
Wish Z offered a NR version with a buffered loop and Send & Return controls.